Summary
This field study (2020) examined how fertilisation differentially affects microbial communities in three crop-associated niches: soil, leaf phyllosphere, and root endosphere. The authors found, as suggested by the title, that phyllosphere and root endosphere microbiota showed greater resistance to fertilisation-induced changes than soil microbiota, implying functional buffering in plant-associated microbial assemblages. The work contributes to understanding how agricultural management practices shape microbial diversity at multiple scales within crop systems.
UK applicability
Findings on fertilisation impacts on soil and plant-associated microbiota are relevant to UK arable and horticultural practice, though climate, soil type, and crop varieties differ; local validation would strengthen application to temperate systems.
Key measures
Microbial community composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing), alpha and beta diversity, operational taxonomic units (OTUs), microbial richness and abundance across soil, phyllosphere, and endosphere compartments under different fertilisation treatments
Outcomes reported
The study compared microbial community composition and structure in soil, crop phyllosphere, and root endosphere across different fertilisation regimes. It assessed the resistance of these distinct microbial communities to fertilisation-induced changes.
Topic tags
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